Name: Ruth Lee Smart Padgett Date: October 16th, 1928 - January 19th, 2010 Obituary: Ruth Lee Smart Padgett, 81, of Ellenboro, died January 19,2010, at Hospice House of Forest City, after a long, courageous and remarkable battle with cancer. A native of Rutherford County, she was the daughter of the late Edgar Alonzo Smart and Sadie Gertrude VanHorn. She was preceded in death by husband Eddie Victor Padgett, brothers Ernest Dalton Smart, Edgar Alonzo (Junior) Smart, John Henry Smart, George Pinkney Smart, and Franklin Delano Smart and sisters Eula Reid Smart Bradley, Frances Estelle Smart Moore, and Edna Adeline Smart . She is survived by her son Joel Stephen Padgett and wife Judith, K. of Casar, daughter Pamela Lee Padgett of Ellenboro, brother Robert Jack Smart of Forest City and grandchildren Iris Lydia Padgett and Holly Anne Padgett, both of Carrboro. She is also survived by sister-in-law Eula Mae Smart, and numerous other loving nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. Ruth was previously a member of Corinth Baptist Church in Ellenboro and a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Forest City, where she was actively involved in her Sunday School Class and the Choir. She graduated from Cool Springs High School on May 24, 1945, and Isothermal Community College on May 3, 1980. She had a love for writing and attended the Blue Ridge Christian Writer's Conference. She was passionate about the Smart family genealogy and was very proud to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was related to Captain James Withrow and William Smart, Jr., who fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain and John Smart, who was killed at the Battle of Kings Mountain and whose name is on the monument at the Kings Mountain Battlefield. Throughout her life, Ruth was a devoted mother and homemaker. She was also employed full-time throughout most of her life in jobs in textiles, as a seamstress, a receptionist and a demo representative. While employed by the Rutherford County Senior Center, Ruth was a SHIPP volunteer and provided an invaluable service to many seniors aiding them with insurance problems. Other activities included singing with the Isothermal Singers and volunteering at The Foundation Performing Arts and Conference Center. The family will receive visitors at The Padgett and King Mortuary on Friday evening from 6 to 8 PM. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Forest City on Saturday morning at Eleven o’clock AM , with Dr. Barry Keys officiating and Wilda Sue Marple Smith and Neil Murray assisting. Burial will follow at Cool Springs Cemetery. Family will gather at the home following the burial. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church , 211 West Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043 or Hospice of Rutherford County , PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043 or the American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park, Building 1, Asheville, NC 28801. The Padgett and King Mortuary is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com Visitations: 6:00PM to 8:00PM on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at The Padgett & King Mortuary (map/driving directions) Services: 11:00AM at First Baptist Church, Forest City on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 (map/driving directions) Cemetery: Cool Springs Cemetery Cemetery Street Forest City, NC 28043 (map/driving directions)